Article

B Corp or EcoVadis: what's the best choice for your company?

In brief

Expert insight — François Dequenne: the rule of thumb is that if you are EcoVadis Silver, your company has the maturity to start a B Corp certification journey.

"When deciding which sustainability rating or certification standard is right for your company, the most important factor is how it will contribute to your strategic goals."

Under growing scrutiny from regulators, stakeholders and customers, certification against a recognised standard is an effective way to demonstrate tangible progress — and given the financial and time investment, the pathway deserves a careful choice.

What do B Corp and EcoVadis have in common?

Document-based assessment: both require comprehensive documentation of sustainability practices, with questionnaires tailored to industry, company size and headcount. Continuous improvement: certified B Corps must recertify every three years; EcoVadis assessments typically run annually to verify progress.

What are the key differences?

Reach. EcoVadis is one of the most widely used corporate sustainability ratings, with more than 150,000 companies assessed worldwide; there are only around 9,000 B Corps globally.

Accessibility. A wider range of industries is eligible for an EcoVadis rating; B Corp is more restricted due to industry risk considerations. B Corp requires a minimum of 80 points. A company that has reached EcoVadis Silver (73/100) has the management maturity to start a B Corp process; EcoVadis operates a tiered approach (Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum) recognising different levels of progress.

Scope of the assessment. The main difference: EcoVadis evaluates the sustainability management system; B Corp assesses the company's impact through its operations and business model. B Corp also requires an addendum to the articles of association stating that the company weighs the interests of the environment, society and financial performance equally — protecting the mission through organisational changes.

Impact Business Models. EcoVadis primarily assesses existing policies, measures and reporting; B Corp's Impact Business Model (IBM) analysis goes deeper, evaluating how the company is structured to deliver specific positive social or environmental outcomes.

Already EcoVadis-rated: is B Corp the next step?

The B Impact Assessment (BIA) emphasises performance and impact, with a broader scope — more questions on community engagement and customer stewardship. Two extra draws: credibility (69% of Europeans familiar with B Corp say certification positively influences their choice of a product or service — B Corporation, 2024) and community (9,000+ B Corps across 162 industries and 93 countries, with B Lab events, conferences and training).

Already a B Corp: what does EcoVadis add?

As the world's largest sustainability ratings provider, EcoVadis lets you share detailed scorecards with customers, suppliers and value chain partners — supply chain transparency B Corp does not require. Its structured four-theme, P-A-R approach integrates readily into internal management alongside B Corp practices. And access to finance: banks and financial institutions, especially in Europe, increasingly use EcoVadis ratings to track ESG performance; a favourable rating can ease financing or unlock preferential, ESG-linked conditions.

What do they cost, and how long do they take?

B Corp: four phases — evaluation (eligibility and the BIA), verification (B Lab's in-depth review; companies scoring 75-80 get the chance to improve to the 80-point threshold), improvement, post-verification (signing the Declaration of Interdependence). Typically 9 to 24 months, with a verification fee and an annual certification fee based on size and geography.

EcoVadis: two main steps — registration and questionnaire completion from existing documentation; analysts then review for about six to eight weeks; the whole process typically takes four to six months. Historical marker: as of 1 July 2024, the percentile-based medal thresholds corresponded to Platinum 81, Gold 73, Silver 66, Bronze 58 — thresholds that have risen substantially since (see the Rising Bar article).

Why is either one a strategic asset?

Choose the pathway that matches your position on the sustainability maturity curve. Early in the journey, an EcoVadis rating is an excellent first step and a powerful platform for supply chain transparency; B Corp certification helps more mature companies cement their reputation as sustainability frontrunners.

Key takeaways

Same family, different objects: EcoVadis rates the management system; B Corp certifies the impact and the business model.
EcoVadis is broader and tiered (150,000+ rated companies); B Corp is selective (80-point minimum, ~9,000 companies, statutory mission lock).
Timelines differ sharply: 4-6 months annually versus 9-24 months every three years.
The two are complementary: EcoVadis for supply chain and finance, B Corp for consumer credibility and community.
Maturity rule of thumb: EcoVadis Silver = ready to start B Corp.

Frequently asked questions

When is a company ready for B Corp?

Rule of thumb: if you are EcoVadis Silver, your company has the maturity to start a B Corp certification journey. B Corp requires a minimum of 80 points on the B Impact Assessment, where EcoVadis recognises progress in tiers.

How long does each process take?

EcoVadis: registration plus questionnaire, about six to eight weeks of analysis, four to six months in total, repeated annually. B Corp: typically 9 to 24 months (evaluation, verification, improvement, post-verification), with recertification every three years.